\ 



French's International Copyrighted (in England, her Colonies, and 
the United States) Edition of the Works of the Best Authors 



No. 224. 



THE PRIZE 



a IPU12 in ©nc Bet 



JOHN BARGATE 



Copyright, 1912, by Samuel French 



CAUTION, -The professional acting rights of "The Prize," are 
reserved. For terms for professional use apply to Samuel French, 
28-30 West 38th St., New York. This notice does not apply to 
amateurs, who may perform the play without permission. 



New York 
SAMUEL FRENCH 

PUBLISHER 

28-30 WEST 38th STREET 



London 

SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd. 

26 Southampton Street 

STRAND 



THE PRIZE 



B IPlag in One Bet 



JOHN BARGATE 



Copyright, 1912, by Samuel French 



CAUTION,— The professional acting rights of "The Prize," are 
reserved. For terms for Drofessional use apply to Samuel French, 
28-30 West 38th St., New York. This notice does not apply to 
amateurs, who may perform the play without permission, 



New York 
SAMUEL FRENCH 

PUBLISHER 

28-30 WEST 38th STREET 



London 

SAMUEL FRENCH. Ltd. 

26 Southampton Street 

STRAND 



^^_^^*^ 



f^^'.l)'' 



THE PRIZE 



CHAEACTEKS. 

Mrs. Bolton A ijoung matron 

Mrs. Geatz. .A dressy ividow of fifty — sharp fea- 
tured, keen-eyed 
Miss Phyllis Stone A girl of twenty-two — im- 
pulsive 
Me. Bolton. .An American business man of about 

forty years 

Mr. Harvey Stiles Brother of Mrs. Bolton — a 

bachelor of thirty years 

Me. Ceaddock Stone Father of Phyllis — aged 

sixty years — stout, pompous 
Maid. 



©CI.D 30716 



THE PRIZE 



Scene: — Scene opens in the drawing-room of the 
Bolton residence. Half a dozen card tables, 
littered with cards, punch glasses and plates of 
candy are in the room. The chairs are pushed 
hack from the tables. 

Voice, (from the next room on left) No, it didn't 
come from Shrove's. I know it is, but it didn't come 
from there. 

(Enter Me. Bolton on right.) 

I don't know where. I can't tell. My husband 
bought it, as I told you — I don't know where. What ? 
I'll have to ask him — and I'll let you know. Good- 
bye, (noise made in hanging up phone is heard) 

(Enter Mrs. Bolton on left.) 

Mrs. Bolton. Oh dear! (stops on seeing Mr. 
Bolton) A^^iy, John, you home? (kisses him) 

Me. Bolton. It looks like it. Who was it that 
you were telephoning to ? 

Mrs. Bolton. 0, that was Mrs. Gratz ! 

Me. Bolton. Mrs. B. McAlpine Gratz? 

Mrs. Bolton. Yes — that absurd name is always 
in the society columns. She is so tiresome ! 

Mr. Bolton. Was it anything important? 
3 



4 THE PRIZE 

Mrs. Bolton. No — something about a dress- 
maker, (pause. He regards her) 

Me. Bolton, (loolcing at tables) Your card party 
must have stayed late — it looks as if it had just 
broken up. 

Mrs. Bolton. Yes, they have just gone. 

Mr. Bolton. How you women can drink punch 
and eat sticky candy while you^re handling cards, 
gets me! 

Mrs. Bolton, (laconically) Everybody does it — I 
have to. It does make a muss, (he goes to table on 
right. Looks at cards carefully — surprised, puts 
them in his pocket) 

Mr. Bolton, (picks up some other cards gingerly 
and lets them fall) Muss! I should say it did! 
(walks to table on right and picks up some visiting 
cards. Reads) Mr. T. Bacon Jones, Mr. T. Bacon 
Jones, Mrs. T. Bacon Jones, Mrs. T. Bacon Jones, 
Mr. T. Bacon Jones, (plays out the cards as if deal- 
ing them) Why, a full hand of T. Bacon Joneses. 
What bosh ! Why do women go in for such rubbish ? 

Mrs. Bolton. Everybody does it. I had two ladies 
receiving with me the day Mrs. Jones called, and of 
course the proper thing is to leave a card for each. 

Mr. Bolton. Then, if you had a dozen friends 
here, Mrs. T. Bacon Jones would leave a baker's 
dozen of her cards? 

Mrs. Bolton. Certainly. She would have to 

Mr. Bolton. To be consistent. How do you ex- 
plain the two cards of Mr. T. Bacon? 

Mrs. Bolton. Why, he leaves one card for you 
and one for me. 

Mr. Bolton. Oh, he does, does he ? Not he — not 
if he knows it ! Tom Jones — the crabbed old Scotch- 
man — grubbing away in his musty office — he hasn't 
made a call in forty years. He wouldn't call on me, 
or anyone else, unless business made him. {care- 
lessly) Who won the prize to-day? 



THE PHIZE 6 

Mrs. Bolton. Mrs. Gratz. She's a regular 
.sharper. I can't bear that woman! 

Me. Bolton". Why do you invite her, then? 

Mrs. Bolton. Well, you know she got into the 
Club, somehow, and she's such a fine bridge player- 
why, she's taken lessons of Evv^ell himself, and it's 
such good practice to play with her. Besides, she 
always dresses well, and the others like to see her 
clothes, and she's a friend of that Mrs. Steele's, who's 
invited me to tliree bridge parties this year, and — — 

Me. Bolton, {turning suddenly) Ethel, why did 
you tell Mrs. Gratz that I bought the prize ? 

Mrs. Bolton, (confused) Why, I— well— I had 
to, John, I just had to. 

Mr. Bolton. Perhaps the, — dressmaker made you, 

Mes. Bolton. Now, don't be sarcastic. I think 
you might help me. 

Me. Bolton. I will — if you'll tell me what it's 
all about. But, I don't see why you need to get into 
such mix-ups. 

Mes. Bolton, (reproachfully) John! 

Me. Bolton, (sitting down) Make a clean breast 
of it, Ethel. I want no evasions remember, or — 
dressmakers. 

Mrs. Bolton, (seating herself and nervously 
arranging a pack of cards) Well, you know, the Club 
met here, and of course it was my turn to buy the 
prize — since our husbands will not allow us to play 
for the actual money. And 

Mr. Bolton. Just a moment. Where does the 
money come from to buy the prize? 

Mes. Bolton. From the Clab. 

Mr. Bolton. Oh, each member is assessed. 

Mrs. Bolton. Yes, one dollar each. 

Mr. Bolton. And there are fifty members, I 
think you said? 

Mrs. Bolton. Yes, 



6 THE PRIZE 

Me. Bolton. That makes fifty dollars. What did 
you buy, or rather, what did I buy, with it? 

Mrs. Bolton. Vv^ell, I looked and searched the 
town over to find something suitable. ^Ye'd had 
nearly everything in the way of silverware, and — 
and 

Mr. Bolton. Do you mean to tell me that your 
Club has bought everything in this city — I mean, 
everything that can be bought for fifty dollars? 

Mrs. Bolton, (severely) I said nearly everything 
in silverware, (pause) The only thing we hadn^t 
had was a set of black coffee spoons, (pause) 

Me. Bolton. Well? 

Mrs. Bolton. I went down town on purpose to 
look for black coffee spoons ; and while I was looking 
at some sets I suddenly remembered that set we had 
given to us when we were married — you remember, 
the one we never used, because — well, because I never 
liked them — they were too small — regular doll's 
spoons. 

Mr. Bolton, (severely) Ethel ! You didn't turn 
in those spoons as a bridge prize? 

Mrs. Bolton. What possible difference could it 
make if I did ? They were really very pretty. Why, 
you look at me as if I had committed a crime ! 

Mr. Bolton. You furnished the Club with those 
spoons — that were presented to us by a friend — a 
wedding gift — and kept the fifty dollars ! 

Mrs. Bolton. Yes, I did. I couldn't see any 
harm in it ; but you keep on making sometliing dread- 
ful out of it, instead of helping me orit. 

Mr. Bolton. The spoons didn't cost fifty dollars. 

Mrs. Bolton. Didn't they? Oh, surely, they 
must have cost at least fifty ! There were two dozen, 
you know, besides, a fancy sugar spoon, and they 
were all enameled and in a beautiful satin case. 

Mr. Bolton, (savagely) Humph ! Who gave us 



THE PRIZE 7 

the spoons? How do yon know that the giver may 
not be a member of the Club? 

Mrs. Bolton. That's impossible, — I thought of 
that. The spoons were sent to us by Mr. Stevens, of 
Boston. 

Mr. Bolton. Poor devil ! Little he thought what 
would become of his present ! 

Mrs. Bolton. John ! How unkind ! 

Mr. Bolton. Who gave you the fifty dollars ? 

Mrs. Bolton. Phyllis — she's the Club Treasurer, 
She couldn't be here this afternoon. 

Mr. Bolton. You spent it, I suppose? 

Mrs. Bolton. Yes. I bought that lovely flower 
boa — chiffon and blush roses, the one that's been so 
much admired at Picot's. I'd a great deal rather 
have it than doll's spoons. 

Mr. Bolton. A flower boa ! I should think it 
would be a boa constrictor, 

Mrs. Bolton. And choke me, I suppose. Keep 
right on with your pleasantries — I can stand it — 
perhaps — ( tearfully ) 

Mr. Bolton. Now, don't do the martyr act. 

Mrs. Bolton. I fail to grasp your meaning. 
{dignified) 

Mr. Bolton. It's no use, Ethel, you can't gQX 
out of it that way. {pause) You see, I know you 
too well. 

Mrs. Bolton. Yet, I am in the hands of a friend. 

Mr. Bolton. Yes, and I think your best friend. 
I can't see you pose and keep silent. 

Mrs. Bolton. So — you humiliate me and glorv 
in it ! 

Mr. Bolton, {groans) Flower Boa of Chiffon 
and blush roses ! Yf hat am I to do ? 

Mrs. Bolton. You've got to help me out. 

Mr. Bolton. Ugh ! I don't like to be made part 
of a — lie. 



8 THE PRIZE 

Mes. Bolton. John Bolton ! 

Me. Bolton. Never mind being: shocked, now, 
and never mind analyzing. We won't go into that. 
I like to call things hv their right names. — then you 
know where yon stand. What did Mrs. Gratz say? 

Mes. Bolton. (sulJcily) She — she won the 
prize, 

Me. Bolton. So you said. 

Mes. Bolton. x4nd now, she v/ants to exchange it. 
So I told her — on the spur of the m.oment — it was 
over the telephone, you know, — and I didn't know 
what to say, — I said 

Me. Bolton. I think I heard that part of it. You 
said " my husband bought it. T don't know where." 
{groans, raises his hounds) Chiffon rose and blushes ! 

Mes. Bolton, {tearfully) T had no time to think 
of anything else. That woman is so sharp. 

Me. Bolton. "\Aniat am I to do, — what am I to 
say to her, that is the question? 

Mes. Bolton. Nothing. Or anything you please. 
Only, don't talk to her as you've talked to me. The 
way you put it m.akes it all look so differently. 

Me. Bolton. I can't see how that is to mend 
matters, {suddenly) Where did she sit to-day? 
Did she move about ? 

Mes. Bolton. She sat there, {points to table on 
right) — at the head table, the whole blessed after- 
noon, as if she'd been a statue fastened to that chair ! 
Nothing could budge her ! 

Me. Bolton, {takes up another pack frora table on 
right. Examines them,. Aside) Marked, too, by an 
expert! {aloud) Well, what am T to do? 

Mes. Bolton. Why, we'll wear her out, we'll just 
put her off. I'll do it — probably, you won't see her at 
all. Finally, even she must get tired of asking where 
it came from. 



THE PRIZE 9 

{Bell rings.) 

Oh, perhaps that is Mrs. Gratz now! John, you 
mustn^t be seen ! 

Me. Bolton. "^'^Hioever comes here will have to see 
me. I will not hide from forty Mrs. Gratzes ! 

Mrs. Boltox. But, John, what will you say ? 

Mr. Bolton. I don't know. I'll not hide, that's 
settled, (defiantly) 

Mrs. Bolton. Please, John dear, do go upstairs 
to your dark room ! I'll tell her that you're develop- 
ing photographs and can't be disturbed. 

Mr. Bolton. No dark room for me. (seats him- 
self) I prefer to let the light of day shine on all 
I do. 

Mrs. Bolton. How self-righteous! Do you 
mean to tell me that there haven't been events in your 
life that you'd prefer to have developed in a dark 
room? (pause) The annual dinner of your College 
Frat, for instance? 

Mr. Bolton. Botheration ! Ethel, you know I'm 
not posing; but, a lie 

Mrs. Bolton. There's that awful word again. 
And that v*^oman who's come to humiliate me, is 
probabl}^, half v.^ay up stairs this minute! 

(Enter maid, vAth card. Mrs. Bolton reads.) 

Oh, it's only Phyllis! Show her up. (exit maid) 
What a relief! 

(Enter Phyllis Stone. She hisses Mrs. Bolton.) 

Oh, Phyllis, you are a darling ! I never was so glad 
to see any one before ! 

Phyllis. "Why, what's the matter ? How d'ye do, 
Mr. Bolton? (shakes hands with him. To Mrs. 



10 THE PRIZE 

Bolton) I was so sorry not to be able to come to 
the party. How did it go? {Mns. B0J.TON does 7iot 
reply) 

Mr. Bolton'. {gloomily) How do you do? 

Phyllis, (surprised) I'm quite well, thank you. 
(looks from one to the other) 

Mrs. Bolton, (impulsively) John, Fm going to 
tell Phyllis all about it. Maybe she can help ns out. 

Mr. Bolton. Um ! Perhaps she may know an- 
other dressmaker. 

Mrs. Bolton, (to him) I think yon might have 
a little Christian charity. Oh, Phyllis! 

Phyllis. Whatever can be the matter ? 

Mrs. Bolton. Why, this: instead of buying the 
prize for the Club to-day, I gave them — (Mr. 
Bolton winces) — a beautiful new set of black coffee 
spoons, which was once given to me, but had not been 
used. 

Phyllis. Well, what of it? I don't see anything 
wrong in that. (Mr. Bolton gasps) 

Mrs. Bolton. You don't! (joyfully) 

Phyllis. N'o. 

Mrs. Bolton, (triumphantly) Now, John, you 
see, Phyllis doesn't see anything wrong in it. 

Phyllis. Certainly, I do not. You used some 
new spoons for a prize, instead of buying others. 
Well? 

Mr. Bolton. She turned in an old wedding 
present of spoons, which she hadn't used because they 
were too small, and kept the money ! (raises his 
hands. Aside) Blushes and chiffon! 

Mrs. Bolton. Wliat could I do with the money? 
Throw it away? Perhaps, you'd have me send it to 
Boston, to Mr. Stevens who gave us the spoons? 

Mr. Bolton. That would be more honorable than 
keeping it. Fifty dollars for a flower string! (sighs) 

Mrs. Bolton, (indignantly) It isn't a string! 



THE PRIZE 11 

Phyllis. What is the trouble? It is done now. 

Mrs. Bolton. Yes, and everything would be all 
right excei^t that that tiresome Mrs. Gratz wants to 
exchange the prize. 

Phyllis. She won it? (Mes. Bolton nods) 

Me. Bolton. She wants to exchange the prize so 
that she can prize the exchange — keep it on hand for 
swapping purposes. 

Phyllis. How greedy of her! 

Mes. Bolton. Isn^t it? 

Phyllis, {to Mrs. Bolton) Do you suppose she 
has heard about the plates? 

Mr. Bolton, {sternly) What plates? If there's 
any more underhand business in this affair, I want to 
know it. 

Mrs. Bolton. Mercy ! How you do snap one up, 
John! 

Phyllis. Now, Mr. Bolton, I never thought you 
" a snapper up of unconsidered trifles." 

Mrs. Bolton. "Underhand work," I think you 
said. One would think I concealed cards up my 
sleeve and regularly cheated. 

Mr. Bolton. How shocking, my dear ! I'd never 
think of laying a charge of dishonesty at your door. 

Mrs. Bolton. You're sarcastic and — horrid. 

Mr. Bolton. I want the truth about the plates. 

Phyllis, {oifering him a plate of candy) These 
are the only plates the Club has seen to-day. Have 
some — it's taffy — do ! 

Mr. Bolton. No, thank you. 

Mrs. Bolton, {offering him a plate of candy) Dn 
have some of mine — " sweetheart kisses " — they're 
the latest thing ! 

Mr. Bolton, {smiles and moves away) Go away, 
both of you! Incorrigibles ! {he walks across stage 
and haclc. Seriously) I'm not be bought off with 
taffy. If there's anything more to know about those 
plates, I want to know it. 



12 THE PRIZE 

Mes. Bolton. Of course there's nothing more. 
The plate-s were a prize at a meeting "before this, at 
Mrs. Hunt's. 

Phyllis. "What do you think Mrs. Hunt does? 
(to Me. Bolton-) 

Mk. Bolton. I give it up. (sighs) 

Phyllis. Why, when she wins a prize, she takes 
it straight back to Shrove's, or wherever it came from, 
and has it credited to her. Then, when the credit 
amounts to $200.00 she gets something she really 
ivants. 

Mr. Bolton. What delicacy ! Boas and blushes I 

Mes. Bolton. John ! Don't say that silly thing 
again. If you do I shall scream!!! What am I to 
do? Oh, Phyllis, do help me! 

Phyllis. There must be some way out of it, if we 
could only find it. (pause) If your brother were 
only here, Ethel, he's so clever, I'm sure he could find 
a way. 

Mes. Bolton. Harvey? He's upstairs now. I'll 
call him. 

Me. Bolton, (to Mes. Bolton) I shouldn't think 
you'd care about having any more people know about 
this — affair. 

Mes. Bolton, (haughtily) My own brother is 
loyal enough to help me out of a difficulty. 

(Exit Mes. Bolton.) 

Phyllis. I'll tell you how we could explain it! 
(excitedly) 

Mr. Bolton, (sceptically) How? 

Phyllis. We'll say that Papa bought the spoons ! 

Mr. Bolton. Your father ! He would never be a 
party to such deception. 

Phyllis. He need never know anything about it. 
You see 



THE PRIZE 13 

{Enter Mrs. Bolton and Mr. Stiles. Running to 
meet them.) 

I've found a way ! How do yon do, Harvey ? 

Mr. Stiles. I'm quite well, thank yon — ^and as 
nsual, Miss Phyllis is as blooming as a rose. 

Phyllis. Thank yon. Vm so glad you're at home, 
because I told Ethel that I v;as sure yo'd could get 
her out of this scrape. 

Mr. Stiles. Pm immensely flattered, Pm sure, — 

Mrs. Bolton. I've told Harvey everything and 
he says he'll arrange it. 

Mr. Stiles. I said Pd try, Ethel. 

Mrs. Bolton. Well, that's the same thing. What 
did you think of, Ph3dlis? 

Phyllis. My plan is to say that Papa bought the 
spoons. 

Mrs. Bolton. Your father! Oh, Phyllis, he 
never would ! 

Phyllis. What an artless creature you are, Ethel ! 
Of course I don't mean to tell him. But we'll tell 
Mrs. Gratz something like this: (the rest gather 
round her tuhile she counts the points of on her 
fingers) I meet Mr. Bolton on his way to buy the 
prize, (Mr. Bolton squirms) and he tells me of his 
dislike for the undertaking. (Mr. Bolton and Mr. 
Stiles regard her with astonishment. She goes 
glibly on) V/hereupon, I offer to ask Papa to buy 
it 

Mr. Stiles. My dear Phyllis, don't you think it a 
little strange that Mr. Craddock Stone, banker, 
should buy a prize for Ether's Bridge Club ? 

Phyllis. Not if I asked him to. 

Mr. Stiles. True. It's not probable that any 
man would refuse to do anything that you asked of 
him. 

Phyllis. Besides, {swAles and boivs) Papa could 



14 THE PRIZE 

get a diseoiint — because — he owns the building in 
which is the big jewelry and silversmith's store, in — 
where did you say the spoons came from, Ethel? 

Mrs. Bolton. From Boston. 

Phyllis, {continuing) In Boston, a big silver- 
smith's store in Papa's building in Boston. 

Me. Stiles. But, Phyllis, your father doesn't own 
any such building. 

Mr. Bolton. That needn't make any difference — 
don't mind a little thing like that. 

Phyllis, (to Mr. Stiles) How is Mrs. Gratz 
to find that out? To continue, I offer to relieve Mr. 
Bolton by getting Papa to buy the prize, in order to 
get a discount — and — {brightening) save the Club 
money. 

Mr. Bolton. I absolutely — (Mrs. Bolton goes 
to him hastily and whispers) 

Phyllis. Mr. Bolton gives me the fifty dollars 
and I promise not to tell Ethel. Ethel, of course, 
doesn't know a word of all this and believes that she 
is telling the truth 

Mr. Bolton. Um! 

Phyllis. When she tells Mrs. Gratz that Mr. 
Bolton bought the prize. 

Mr. Stiles. What a charming — prevaricator you 
are, Phyllis ! 

Mr. Bolton. Humph ! A charming all round — 

Mrs. Bolton. John! (To Phyllis) Your plan 
is just simply fine ! It is so good of you to help me ! 
What do you think of it, Harvey? 

Mr. Stiles. It's all right, as a sort of a joke, you 
know — as far as it goes. But — but, it doesn't go far 
enough, exactly. 

Phyllis. Then v/e'll make it go farther. What is 
the matter with it? 

Mr. Stiles. Why, you've simply moved the dif- 
ficulty from John to your father. If Mr. Stone 



THE PRIZE 15 

"bought the prize, Mrs. Gratz will ask him to exchange 
it. 

Phyllis, (triumphantly) Papa never exchanges 
anything ! 

Mr. Stiles. He might, when it isn't his own. 
This is a Club matter, 

Phyllis, (decidedly) I shall tell her that he never 
does it — it's against his principles. Besides, you for- 
get that Papa will never know anything about it. 

Mr. Stiles. No, that's true — at least we hope he 
won't. With such a pushing woman as Mrs Gratz — • 

(Enter maid tuith card.) 

Mrs. Bolton, (reads card) "Mrs. B. McAlpine 
Oratz ! " Good gracious ! What shall I do ? Hush ! 
She always follows her card. 

(Enter Mrs. Gratz.) 

Ah, Mrs. Gratz, Pm so glad to be at home. 

Mrs. Gratz. Thank you. I thought the phone 
was rather unsatisfactory, so I just ran in. How are 
you, Miss Stone ? We missed you at the Club to-day. 
Mr. Stiles, (hotvs to him) Mr. Bolton, I am very glad 
that you are at home. 

Mr. Bolton, (grimly) Thank you. 

Mrs. Gratz. I called 

Phyllis. Oh, Mrs. Gratz, Pve been wanting to 
meet you, because — (hesitates) 

Mrs. Gratz. You could have called upon me, 
Miss Stone, which you've never done, although I've 
asked you times enough. 

Phyllis. I know, Mrs. Gratz, I am very much to 
blame ; but there's so little calling done now-a-days, I 
mean the old-fashioned way of making calls — just 
give and take, you know 



16 THE PRIZE 

Mes. Bolton". Yes, that sort of book-keeping 
calling is altogether out of date. 

Phyllis. Quite. One calls to acknowledge a 
courtesy or — or something of that sort. 

Mrs. Geatz. To put it plainly, you believe that 
people call only upon the rich, wlio entertain? 

Phyllis. 0, no, dear Mrs. Gratz, not at all ! You 
entirely misunderstood us. But, to continue, Pve 
been hoping I^d meet you because I wanted to ask 
you — won't you let me loosen your wrap, Mrs. Gratz, 
let me do it for you — you'll get cold when you go out. 
There! (places wrap on chair near Mes. Bolton. 
Aside to Mrs. Bolton) Get John Bolton out of the 



room 



Mrs. Gratz. (to Mr. Bolton) I said that I was 
very glad that you were at home, Mr. Bolton, be- 
cause 

Phyllis. Oh, Mrs. Gratz, pardon me for inter- 
rupting, but really I did have the floor and I was just 
about to say that I had been longing to meet you to 
ask you to join the loveliest little class in fencing. 
There are just six of us, and Moskowsky is able to 
give us so much more attention than he could in his 
laro^er classes. 

Mrs. Gratz. Who are the members? 

Phyllis. Dorothy Reeves, the three Dalton girls, 
Ethel and myself. 

Mes. Gratz. Thank you. I'll join it. Those 
society girls will make it attractive. I don't know 
them, but I'd like to. I've always been considered 
good at one kind of fencing. 

Mes. Bolton, (aside to Me. Bolton) Do go 
upstairs ! 

Me. Bolton, (aside to Mes. Bolton) I'll not 
leave this room. 

Mes. Geatz. As I remarked twice before, Mr. 
Bolton, I'm extremely glad that you are at home, be- 



THE PRIZE 17 

cause I called in regard to my prize, which I won to- 
day and which I am told that you bought. Where 
did it com.e from. Mr. Bolton? 

Mk. Bolton, {feebly) I — I presume the name of 
the silversmith on the box v/ill tell you. 

M"RS. Geatz. No, it won't. The box is from 
Shrove's. But I took it there and they said the 
spoons hadn't been bought from them. Where were 
tbey bought? 

Mr. Bolton. Great Scott, Madame! — How • 

Phyllis. I have a little confession to make, Mrs. 
Gratz — it's quite like a pla}^, (laughs) isn't it? I 
know you'll enjoy it, because you're so fond of the 
llieater. But, do sit down ! {places chairs for Mrs. 
Gratz and herself) 

Mr. Stiles, {aside to Phyllis) Don't tell her 
that yarn. 

Phyllis, {aside to Mr. Stiles) Why not? 

Mr. Stiles, {aside to Phyllis) Because I ask 
you not to. {she tosses her head) I know, of course, 
that you regard the matter as a joke; but we can't 
joke with that woman. 

Mrs. Gratz. {to Mr. Bolton) They told me at 
Sh rove's that because tlie spoons were in one of their 
boxes it didn't prove anything. They said that lots 
of people used their boxes for things they bought 
anywhere. 

Mr. Stiles. " Things bought anywhere ! '' Fancy 
receiving a baby alligator or a boa constrictor in one 
of Shrove's boxes! 

Mr. Bolton. A boa — chiffon blushes ! 

Mr. Stiles. What's the matter, John? You're 
ranting ! 

Mrs. Bolton. He's only trying to steady my 
nerves by pleasant allusions to 

Mrs. Gratz. {bridling) Allusions not understood 
by us. 



tS THE PRIZK 

Mrs. Bolton. I beg your pardon, Mrs. Gratz", 

Mrs. Geatz. DonH mention it. I'm not to he 
turned from my purpose by allusions to things I don't 
understand. 

Phyllis. But, my dear Mrs. Gratz, wait until you 
hear what I have to say. It will explain everything. 

Me. Bolton, {aside) A lot it v/ill ! 

Mrs. Gratz. I shall be glad to hear it. 

Mes. Bolton, {aside to Mr. Stiles) Phyllis is so 
clever ! 

Me. Stiles, {aside to Mes. Bolton) Yes, she- 
seems to be devilish clever. 

Mes. Bolton. Harvey, you ought to go on your 
knees to her for getting me out of this awful scrape,, 
instead of acting the bear like John. 

Me. Stiles, {aside to Mes. Bolton) Well, she 
hasn't got you out of it yet. 

Mes. Bolton, {same) I'm awfully afraid she'll 
never be able to fool that woman. 

Phyllis, {who lias been arranging cushions on 
Mes. Gratz's chair. She comes l. Mes. G. — Irj 
players — this scene until Phyllis speahs) Why, you 
see, it was this way. I met Mr. Bolton on his way 
to buy the prize — on a Thursday — no, that's my day 
at home — still, it might have been 

Mr. Stiles. Much more likely to have been, I 
should think ; for I believe some ladies rarely stay at 
home on their days. 

Phyllis. Now, Mr, Stiles, you only found me out 
on two Thursdays. 

Mrs. Gratz. {irritahly) It doesn^t make any dif- 
ference what day it was. What did you say to Mr. 
Bolton when you met him? 

Phyllis. He told me — (Me. Bolton utters an 
exclamation and goes hastily to window) that he was 
on his way to buy a prize for the Club, because it 
would meet at Ethel's next time. And he said he 



THE PRIZE 19 

was puzzled— he was at his wit's end to know what to 
buy. So I offered to ask Papa to buy it for him — 

Mrs. Geatz. {surprised) Your father! Why 
should he buy the prize ? 

Phyllis, (glibly) Because, you see, he owns the 
building occupied by the silversmith who sold the 
spoons; and for that reason he could get them at a 
discount. (the others gasp, except Mrs. Gratz) 

Mrs. Geatz. Humph! Where is this building ? 

Phyllis. In Boston. The spoons came from 
Boston. 

Mes. Geatz. Then I shall have to ask your father 
to be kind enough to exchange tliem for me. 

Phyllis. Pm sorry, but it ]-eally wouldn't be any 
use, dear Mrs. Gratz, because Papa never exchanges 
anything,— it's against his principles. He'll do any- 
thing I ask him— if I ask him real hard— except that 
— he never exchanges anything! 

Me. Stiles, (who has been talking to Me. Bol- 
ton) And now, Mrs. Gratz, that you have heard the 
explanation, will you not— (offers his arm) let me 
show you some rarely beautiful amethysts which were 
purchased in Havana, during the Cuban War? They 
are in the library, and as the others have seen them 
we'll not ask them to accompany us, (Mes. Geatz 
reluctantly takes his arm) You see, during the war 
— (moving off) there was great financial distress 
among many of the wealthy families and they were 
obliged to part with their jewels, 

(Exeunt Mes. Geatz and Me. Stiles.) 

Mes. Bolton. Oh, I thought she'd never go! 
Phyllis ! (embraces her) How did you ever manage 

Phyllis. It wasn't easy, (thoughtfully) And 
1 m not sure that she believed me. 



20 THE PRIZE 

Mes. Bolton. 0, she's got to ! i^t least, she's got 
to make believe she believes you. 

Mr. Bolton, (coming forward) Believes you? 
Not she — not a bit of it. 

Mrs. Bolton. When a woman's own husband 
won't stand by her 

Mr. Bolton. I am standing by you — I've got to — 
it's the only thing left for me to do ; but that doesn't 
force me to believe that black is white. 

Mrs. Bolton, (indignantly) You might think it 
is, especially since it doesn't make any difference 
whether it is or not. 

Mr. Bolton, (restlessly walHng to hack of room) 
Damn! 

Mrs. Bolton, (injured) John! Please do not 
offend us. 

Mr. Bolton. Oh! (mutters) 

Phyllis, (laughs) Think of poor Harvey show- 
ing that old frump those amethysts! 

Mrs. Bolton. He'd better watch them. 

Phyllis. Oh, Ethel, she's not so bad as that ! 

Mrs. Bolton. Nobody knows anything about her 
people, or where she came from; and such a woman 
is capable of an3^thing. 

Phyllis. It's always so bad when no one knows 
anything about a person's family. (Mr. Bolton con- 
tinues to gaze from window) 

Mrs. Bolton, (lowering her voice. Aside to 
Phyllis) A man did tell John something about 
her, but it wasn't creditable. 

Phyllis, (eagerly) A\Tiat was it? 

Mrs. Bolton, (aside to Phyllis) I'm not sure 
that I ought to tell you. 

Phyllis, (same) If you don't, after telling me 
this much, I call it shabby of you. 

Mrs. Bolton, (same) Well, it was a man who 
had known Mrs. Gratz years ago in — in, well, I forget 



THE PRIZE 21 

the name of the place, but it was where she formerly 
lived. 

Phyllis. Ethel Bolton, do go on! 

Miis. Bolton, {same) I didn't, really hear what 
he said. But I know, just as well as though I had, 
that it was something disgracefuL John never will 
say one word against a woman. 

Phyllis. Then how do you know ? 

Mes. Bolton, (same) Wliy, I can always tell by 
the expression of his face^ just what he thinks; and 
whenever Mrs. Gratz's name is mentioned he al- 
v/ays looks as though he had been caught stealing 
sheep. 

Phyllis. How perfectly dreadful! I always 
knew there was something about that woman. 

Mes. Bolton, (same) Isn't it? Now, if that 
doesn't mean that she was more than giddily gay 
when she was young, I don't know what it does 
mean. 

Me. Bolton, (coming down) Well, have you 
finished her? She should be in bits by this time. 

Mes. Bolton. You don't like her yourself, John. 

Me. Bolton. I admit it; but give the devil his 
due. 

Phyllis. I v/ouldn't be seen on the street with 
her for anything ! 

Mes. Bolton. N'either would I. Why, the clerks 
in the stores just dread to see her come in. She'll 
look at everything and, maybe, at the end of an hour 
she'll buy nothing at all. 

Me. Bolton. Then, she's what is called " a fake 
shopper." 

Mes. Bolton. No, not exactly, because she gen- 
erally does buy things in the end. But, she's a fussy, 
tiresome shopper. I've seen her at it and I'd rather 
take a whipping than go shopping with her. 

Phyllis. So would I. 



22 THE PRI2E 

(Efiter maid with card.) 

Mes. Bolton, (reads) "Mr. Stone!" Your 
father, Phyllis ! He hasn't been here for an age ! 

Phyllis. Papa! (looks around) Where are my 
things? He's called for me, — I'll make some excuse 
and get him away, (hastily puts on her wrap) 

Me. Bolton". ilooTcing toward door) You're too 
late. This Sweedish princess we've got doesn't wait 
for orders. She's showing him upstairs now. 

(Enter Me. Stone.) 

Mes. Bolton. How do you do, Mr. Stone, I hope 
you're quite well this cold weather? 

Me. Stone. Thank you, Madame, I am quite welL 
How are you, Bolton? (the men shake hands) 

Mes. Bolton, (aside to Phyllis) You'll have to 
tell him, Phyllis ! Mrs. Gratz will be back any 
minute and she's bound to ask him ! 

Phyllis, (aside to Mes. Bolton. Doubtfully) 
He'll be frightfully angry and cross, and — and he'll 
never believe me again. 

Mes. Bolton, (same) 0, yes he will ! You can 
explain it to him afterwards, — tell him it was a sort 
of lark we'd put up on Mrs. Gratz. 

Phyllis, (saine) He wouldn't think it a lark. 

Me. Stone, (to Bolton) Your wife must see 
a great deal of my daughter. It seems to me that 
she's always here, (looks fondly at Phyllis) And 
to-day, in her eagerness to be here, — she quite forgot 
an — engagement with her old father, (puffs) 

Phyllis, (going to him) So I did. Papa. You'll 
have to forgive me ; but we'll go right now. 

Me. Stone. After a little, my dear. Even were 
one so lacking in breeding — as to enter and leave a 
friend's house in such a short space of — time — ^he 



THE PRIZE 23 

Would be obliged, at my age, to show proper deference 
to stairs, (puffs) 

Phyllis. I thought you were in a hurry — ^you 
said you had waited for me. 

Mr. Stone. Hurry? Ko, I am not in a hurry, I 
am never in a hurry. Hurry, hurry, hurry,~it is the 
curse of the age ! 

Phyllis. But, Papa 

Mr. Stone. Eepose, my dear, and permanence of 
domicile are tlie best evidences of an aristocracy. 

Phyllis. (looMng at Mrs. Bolton m despair) 
But, Papa, we were going to look at the pictures, you 
remember; and I'm afraid it will be too dark unless 
We go immediately. The cards,— I mean, the days 
are so short now. 

Mr. Stone, {settling himself in an arm chair) 
Then we will not attempt to view them to-day. There 
are other days, — and we'll not hurry. 

Phyllis. The exhibition closes very soon, maybe 
to-day. Ethel will excuse us, I know. 

Mrs. Bolton. Wliy, certainly. Don't think of 
standing on ceremony with me, Mr. Stone. 

^ Mr. Stone. Madame, your society is preferable to 
pictures, be they masterpieces ! 

Phyllis. But I ^v'ant to see them very much. 
Mr. Stone. You must, my dear, very much in- 
deed, when you forget all about your appointment 
with me for that purpose. N"othing you can say will 
move me now. (i(o Phyllis) I will not be hurried! 
There is one thing that I wish you would cultivate, 
my dear, and that is repose. It is one of the greatest 
charms of woman. Now, you cultivate repose, while 
I talk reciprocity to Bolton. It's a big subject, eh, 
Bolton ? 

Phyllis, (to Mrs. Bolton) I suppose he'd have 
me try to copy the expression of the Sphinx ! 
Me. Bolton, (to Mr. Stone) It is indeed. 



24 THE PRIZE 

Reciprocity is merely carrying the standard for the 
individual and applying it to nations. As I do to 
3^011, so must I expect yon will do to me. (he regards 
Mrs. Bolton) 

Mr. Stome. My sentiments exactly, exactly. 
{voices are heard) 

Mrs. Bolton". (aside to Phyllis. Desperately) 
Tell him, Phyllis, — if yon love me, tell him ! 

Phyllis. Papa dear, you remember, of course, 
that Cousin Matilda told us that a firm of silver- 
smiths occupied a store in that building you own in 
Boston ? 

Mr. Stone. I remember nothing of the sort. 

Phyllis. She certainly said, one of the stores. 

Mr. Stone, (emphatically) Xot at all, not at all! 
The entire building is occupied, and has been this 
ten years, by Smith & Stratton, booksellers. 

Phyllis. But they might have sublet a part 

Mr. Bolton, (aside to Phyllis, hastily) Not a 
word more ! I forbid it ! 

Mr. Stone. A\Tiat's got into you, Phyllis? I 
didn't know that you knew that I owned a building 
in Boston. You must have dreamt about the silver- 
smith. 

Phyllis. Yes, yes, — I must have dreamt it. 

Mr. Bolton, (aside) Oh, Lord! 

Phyllis, (aside to Mr. Bolton) How can you 
desert Ethel, and make me desert her too? 

Mr. Bolton, (aside to Phyllis) Mot a word 
more or Pll tell the whole thing! 

Mr. Stone, (to Mr. Bolton) Strange, what 
notions a girl will get into her artless little head. 
Eh, Bolton? 

Mr. Bolton. Oh, yes, certainly, — very artless, — 
Ha, ha, ha ! 

Mr. Stone. Ha, ha, ha ! She's so honest, so in- 
nocent, — ^blurts everything right out, and expects 



THE PRIZE 25 

people to straighten out all the tangles she's caused. 
But, she's right, God bless her ! Give me artlessness 
every time ! 

Mr. Bolton. I agree with you perfectly, {looks 
at Phyllis and Mv,s. Bolton) 

Mr. Stone. (5^0 Phyllis) Little innocent! Not 
to know the difference between a dream and reality! 
Dreamt that I owned a building in Boston, dreamt 
that it was occupied by a silversmith! Ha, ha, ha! 
(Mr. Bolton places decanter and glasses on table 
beside Mr. Stone. He pours out tuine. They liold 
up glasses) The old toast, eh, Bolton? {raises his 
glass) " Sweethearts and wives ! " 

Mr. Bolton. '^ Sweethearts and wives ! may they 
never meet ! " {he loohs at Mrs. Bolton) 

Mrs. Bolton, {indignant and injured) Keep 
right on, I am being punished, I presume. 

Mr. Bolton, {aside to Mrs. Bolton) Not an- 
other word about the prize, — I forbid it ! 

Mrs. Bolton, {aside to Mr. Bolton) You want 
to see me exposed, humiliated before that woman? 

Mr. Bolton, {aside to Mrs. Bolton) You should 
have thought of that before you started this tissue 
of falsehoods. 

Mrs. Bolton, {same) It's like you to reproach 
me ! 

Mr. Bolton, {same) Leave it to me. I propose 
to take a hand. 

Mrs. Bolton, {same) Oh, John, if you only will ! 
I'm so sorry, and I'll promise never to do such a 
thing again ! 

Phyllis, {to Mr. Stone) I'm waiting. Papa 
dear. Aren't you rested yet ? 

Mr. Stone, {testily) I supposed I am, if I were 
going to catch a train. But, it isn't the way I was 
brought up, to dash in and out of a gentleman's house 
in this fashion, {rises) 



26 THE PRIZE 

{Enter Mrs. Gkatz and Mr. Stiles.) 

Mr. Stiles, {seeing Mr. Stone) There! {to 
Mrs. Gratz) IVe forgotten the most beautiful thing 
of all, — the gem of the collection. Let me show it to 
you — {he tries to draw her through the doorway) 
You really shouldn^t miss it, Mrs. G-ratz ! 

Mrs. Gratz. Thank you. But, I should like very 
much to meet Miss Stone's father {comes forward) 
Mrs. Bolton, will you present me to Mr. Craddock 
Stone, for this gentleman is he, I believe? 

Mrs. Bolton, {faintly) Allow me — to present 
Mrs. Gratz, Mr. Stone. 

Mrs. Gratz. I've often heard of you, sir, and I'm 
delighted to meet you, especially on this occasion, 
for we're both interested in a little transaction, I be- 
lieve. 

Mr. Stone. Madame, at your service, {hows) 
But, I fail to understand you. 

Mr. Stiles, {talcing the hand of Phyllis. Aside 
to her) Don't be frightened, little girl. It's coming, 
but I'll back you up. 

Phyllis, {aside to Mr. Stiles) Oh, what shall I 
do! 

Mr. Stiles, {same) Nothing. Promise not to 
tell any more whoppers and I'll back you up all your 
life. 

Phyllis, {same) And, — if I don't promise? 

Mr. Stiles, {same) But you will, I know you 
will. Promise me, Phyllis ! 

Phyllis, {same) I promise. 

Mr. Bolton, {he gives Phyllis some money un- 
seen hy any one except Mr. Stiles. Aside to 
Phyllis) Here's fifty dollars, — the Club's money! 
Put it in your pocket. 

Phyllis, {aside to Mr. Bolton) But I haven't 
any pocket. 



THE PRIZE 27 

Me. BoLTOisr. (same) Hold it in your hand, then ! 
[(savagely) 

Mrs. Geatz. (to Me. Stone) Perhaps you'll 
understand me when I ask you where you bought 

Me. Bolton". (going between them) Pardon me. 
I feel that an explanation is due both of you. To 
you, Mrs. Gratz, because the prize you won here 
to-day at the meeting of the Bridge Club was a 
present to the Club from my wife, who kindly left the 
matter in my hands. Mr. Stone did not buy the 
prize, nor did I. 

Me. Stone. I? What have I to do with ladies' 
Bridge Clubs? 

Me. Bolton. I'll explain presently, Mr. Stone. 
As I said before, the Club was presented with the 
prize you won, Mrs. Gratz ; and I paid the fifty dol- 
lars given to my wife to be expended in the purchase 
of a prize, to Miss Stone, the treasurer of the Club. 

Mes. Geatz. (grimly) And Miss Stone's con- 
fession that her father bought the prize? 

Me. Stone, (excitedly) Thunder and lightning ! 
Madame, you must have taken leave of your senses ! 

Me. Bolton. That was a rehearsal for some pri- 
vate theatricals; for which deception, Mrs. Gratz, we 
all owe you an apology. 

Phyllis. I, most of all, am to blame. Will you 
forgive me, dear Mrs. Gratz? 

Mes. Geatz. I suppose I must forgive a most pe- 
culiar affair. I was suspicious from the first. 

Me. Bolton. Of what, madame ? 

Mes. Geatz. Of underhand work where Mrs. Bol- 
ton was concerned. 

Me. Bolton. You are speaking of my wife. Ex- 
plain ! 

Mes. Geatz. Well, a woman who would win the 
same plates, twice, at the Club's meetings, and have 
them applied twice on her own account with Tamp & 



28 THE PRIZE 

Co. — where they came from — would be capable of 
peculiar transactions. Mr. Bolton, your wife did 
that! 

(Me. Bolton' must come to her and talk during other 

speeches.) 

Mr. Stiles, (aside to Phyllis) Poor John! 

Phyllis, (aside to Me. Styles) Ethel looks as 
if she were going to faint ! That horrid woman ! 

Me. Stiles, (same) It will be a good lesson to 
Ethel, — and others. 

Me. Stone, (aside to Mes. Bolton) The woman 
is certainly demented. 

Mes. Gratz. (to Me. Bolton) Am I to under- 
stand that by reason of your generosity to the Club, I 
get, instead of a fifty dollar prize, a left-over, misfit, 
job lot of useless spoons? 

Me. Bolton. It is by no means compulsory. You 
need not take the gift, Mrs. Gratz. If you prefer, 
you may return the spoons to the Club treasurer, to 
be held in trust for the Club, and the fifty dollars 
may be expended for anything you choose. 

Mes. Geatz. In that case, I'll take it now. 

(She holds out her hand to Phyllis.) 

Me. Bolton. That would hardly be in accord 
with the rules of the Club. The money may be ex- 
pended for anything you choose, — provided, that 
Miss Stone and Mrs. Bolton accompany you on your 
shopping expedition and approve of your selection. 

(Mes. Bolton and Miss Stone look aghast.) 

Phyllis, (aside to Me. Stiles) What! Go with 
that detestable 



THE PRIZE 29 

Mrs. Geatz. I absolutely decline to submit to any- 
such conditions. The fifty dollars is mine, fairly 
won 

Mk. Bolton, (aside to Mrs. Geatz) (He takes 
the marked cards from his pocket and shows them to 
her, unseen by the others) Fairly won ? With these 
cards ? 

Mrs. Gartz. (alarmed) Oh! 

Mr. Bolton, (same) Well? 

Mrs. Geatz. (same) One cannot use marked cards 
in bridge ! 

Mr. Bolton, (same) 0, yes, one can. They 
serve to give away the other hands, (pause) 

Mrs. Gratz. (sullenly) What do you wish me to 
do? 

Mr. Bolton, (aside to Mrs. Gratz) You will re- 
sign from the Club. Do you accept my terms? 

Mrs. Geatz. (same. Shortly) Yes. 

Me. Bolton, (aloud) On second thought, Mrs. 
Gratz, have 3^ou consented to accept my conditions? 

Mes. Gratz. (grimly) I accept them. 



CURTAIN 



